Scrum machine

ABSTRACT

A scrum machine ( 10 ) comprises pads ( 21 ) which are carried by a central frame portion ( 12 ) on which is mounted two pairs of ground engageable wheels ( 31, 32, 131, 132 ). The ground engageable wheels may be raised and lowered to adjust the extent to which the central frame rests on the ground. Additional resistance is offered by optional traction wheels ( 37, 38 ). Each traction wheel has its own brake ( 151 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to practice equipment for rugby and more particularly to a machine for practising the rugby scrum.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Scrum machines are known and a widely used scrum machine consists of a steel frame having a ground engaging sled section which carries a timber platform and three spaced apart pads on a sub-frame at one end of the sled which the front row of the scum pack against. Weight is applied to the platform in the form of concrete blocks or spare players.

[0003] The technique of scrummaging has become highly technical and it is a facet of rugby play which must be taught and practiced correctly. Current scrum machines do not permit all aspects of scrummaging techniques to be practiced correctly and there is, therefore, a need for an improved scrum machine.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile scrum machine comprising a frame defining a front portion, and a central portion and a rear portion, an array of spaced apart pads on the front portion, and ground engaging wheels that may be raised or lowered to enable the machine to be easily moved as desired.

[0005] Preferably the scrum machine has a pair of independently mounted traction wheels on the rear portion and means for braking each traction wheel.

[0006] In another embodiment there is provided a scrum machine comprising:

[0007] a central frame on which is mounted an operator's seat and a vertical front portion, the front portion, supporting a plurality of pads;

[0008] the central frame supporting two pairs of ground wheels, one pair mounted on one side edge of the central frame and the other pair mounted on the other side edge of the central frame.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention, a scrum machine comprises a ground engaging frame having a platform which extends between a front portion and a rear portion; the front portion supports a plurality of pads and the rear portion supports one or more traction wheels. The traction wheels extend substantially the full width of the frame, each traction wheel comprising a drum on which is mounted slats for increasing the friction between the one or more traction wheels and the ground. The one or more traction wheels are associated with a braking mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a scrum machine according to one embodiment of the invention,

[0011]FIG. 2 is a view from one rear corner of the machine shown in FIG. 1,

[0012]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the machine shown in FIG. 1,

[0013]FIG. 4 is a view from one front corner of the machine shown in FIG. 1,

[0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the control section of the scrum machine shown in FIG. 1,

[0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of one embodiment of the ground wheels on one side of the scrum machine shown in FIG. 1,

[0016]FIG. 7 is a figure showing the ground wheels of FIG. 6 in the travelling position, and

[0017]FIG. 8 is a view showing the ground wheels of FIG. 6 in the raised position.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a scrum machine incorporating a second embodiment of the ground wheels,

[0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the traction wheels and rear frame portion from under the platform.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the scrum machine 10 includes a sled-like main frame 11 that has a central frame portion 12, a front frame portion 13 and an optional rear frame portion 14. The central portion 12 includes a platform 15 and a sub-frame 16 that carries an operator's seat 17. The vertical front portion 13 has an array of upper and lower spaced horizontal arms 18, 19 which project forwardly of the front frame portion 13. The forward ends of the arms 18 and 19 carry mounting plates 20 to which pads 21 are removably secured. Support arms 22 extend between the outermost arms 18 and 19. The lower arms 19 are mounted on the cross bar 23 and the upper arms 18 are mounted on a cross bar 24. The cross bar 23 also has two foot rests 25 in front of the seat 17.

[0021] Braces 26 extend between the upper part of the front frame portion 13 and the central part of the central frame portion 12. A strut 27 which extends between the seat-sub frame 16 and the cross bar 23 has a control panel 28. The panel 28 is located within arm's length of the seat 17 and carries two hand levers 29 and 30 for a brake system to be described below.

[0022] Front and rear ground engageable wheels 31 and 32 are pivotally mounted on each side of the central portion 12 of the frame 11. As can be seen in the example of FIGS. 7 and 8, the wheels 31 and 32 are mounted on crank-like members which are connected together and thus synchronised by link 33 which is pivoted to a second link 34 that is raised and lowered by the control arm 35 to raise and lower the ground wheels 31 and 32 so that the machine 10 may be made to resist movement or easily transported as required. In one embodiment, for example as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the front and rear wheels 31, 32 on each side are raised and lowered simultaneously by the control arm 35. In a second embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, all four ground wheels 31, 32, 131 and 132 are raised and lowered simultaneously. This may be accomplished by interconnecting the left and right side pairs of ground wheels with a common pivot shaft 130. The rotating shaft 130 has a tab welded to it which is acted on by a hydraulic cylinder 133. Rotation of the axle 130 has the same effect as the operation of the control arm 35, that being to raise and lower the ground wheels, (in this instance), in unison. The hydraulic cylinder 133 is pressurised from an actuating handle 134 which is conveniently mounted so that the hand grip of the handle 134 is within arm's reach of the seated scrum machine operator. The handle 134 may be to a hydraulic pump or to a valve controller in more elaborate embodiments.

[0023] It will be appreciated that the control over the height of the four ground wheels, 31, 32, 131 and 132 provides the scrum machine operator with the opportunity to adjust the resistance offered by the scrum machine 10. When the ground wheels are fully raised off the ground, the machine offers the maximum resistance. When the wheels are fully lowered, the machine offers less resistance. Intermediate positions for the ground wheels provide intermediate levels of frictional resistance. This is particularly useful if the training of younger players that are not able to easily displace the scrum machine when the wheels are raised off the ground.

[0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the rear frame portion 14, traction wheels 37, 38 and the associated brakes for the traction wheels are eliminated, this arrangement being ideally suited for younger or lighter players.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10 the rear portion 14 of the frame 11 has a platform 36 beneath which there is pair of separately mounted friction or traction wheels 37 and 38. The traction wheels 37, 38 together extend substantially the full width of the machine 10. Each traction wheel consists of a drum 39 mounted on a shaft 40 which extends between the outer part of the rear portion 14 of the frame 11 and a central support 41. Around the periphery of each drum there are a plurality of longitudinal extending outwardly directed parallel, blunt edged slats 150 which preferably extend the full length of the drum 39 and which engage the ground and resist movement of the machine. Each shaft 40 carries a brake disc or plate 42. Each brake plate 42 is engaged by a disc brake mechanism 151 independently controlled by the hand levers 29 and 30 (or by foot brakes) or other hydraulic mechanisms so that variable braking loads may be applied to the individual brake plates 42. For example, with one traction wheel brake and the other traction wheel free, the machine will “wheel” to simulate a wheeling scrum.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rear frame portion 14 may be fabricated from upper and lower curved elements 153, 153. the lower curved elements 152 are preferably three in number, one to each side and one located centrally 154. They curve upward from the central frame portion 12 and thereby define curved skids which may engage the ground and slide if the front of the scrum machine 20 is lifted during use. The upper curved elements 153 extend forward and down. The shafts 40 are suspended from the lower ends 155 of the upper elements 153. The elements 152, 153 also serve as an internal frame or support to the combined platform 36 and cowl 156, which (as shown in FIG. 9) covers the front, rear and top of the traction wheels 37, 38 and serves as a sturdy support for weights or players. Although the weight of the machine itself and the effect of the traction wheels will provide substantial resistance to a scrum, weights or spare players may be placed on either the central or the rear platform 36 of the cowl 156 to provide added resistance.

[0027] Various details of design and construction may be made without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. 

1. A scrum machine comprising: a central frame on which is mounted an operator's seat and a vertical front portion, the front portion supporting a plurality of pads; the central frame supporting two pairs of adjustable ground engageable wheels, one pair mounted on one side edge of the central frame and the other pair mounted on the other side edge of the central frame.
 2. The scrum machine of claim 1, wherein: each pair of ground wheels is interconnected by a link which acts, under operator control, to raise and lower each wheel in the pair simultaneously.
 3. The scrum machine of claim 2, wherein: both pairs of ground wheels are interconnected by a pivoting shaft which acts to raise and lower both pairs simultaneously.
 4. The scrum machine of claim 3, wherein: the pivoting shaft is pivoted by a hydraulic cylinder which is actuated by a control handle which is mounted within arm's reach of the operator's seat.
 5. The scrum machine of claim 1, further comprising: a rear frame portion which supports a pair of traction wheels, each traction wheel comprising a drum from which extends a plurality of longitudinal slats, each traction wheel having an independent brake.
 6. The scrum machine of claim 1, wherein: each independent brake is a disc brake.
 7. The scrum machine of claim 1, wherein: each disc brake is controlled independently from a hand lever mounted within arm's reach of the operator's seat.
 8. The scrum machine of claim 5, wherein: the rear frame portion further comprises lower and upper elements, the lower elements being curved upwardly from the central frame so as to form skids.
 9. The scrum machine of claim 8, wherein: each lower element has attached at an upper end, an upper element which is curved and which extends forward and down; a lower end of each upper element supporting a bearing for engaging a shaft onto which a traction wheel is mounted.
 10. The scrum machine of claim 5, wherein: the slats are parallel and blunt.
 11. The scrum machine of claims 5 or 8 wherein: the rear frame portion further comprises a support for a cowl to the traction wheels.
 12. The scrum machine of claim 11, wherein: a cowl attaches to the support and covers the traction wheels from the front, rear and top.
 13. The scrum machine of claim 1, wherein: each pad is affixed to the vertical front portion by upper and lower horizontal arms.
 14. The scrum machine of claim 5, wherein: a strut extends from beneath the operator's seat to the vertical front portion and a control panel is mounted on that strut, the control panel supporting hand levers for operating the brakes.
 15. A scrum machine comprising: a ground engaging frame having a platform which extends between a front portion and a rear portion; the front portion supports a plurality of pads and the rear portion supports are on more traction wheels; the traction wheels extending substantially the full width of the frame, each traction wheel comprising a drum on which the mounted slats for increasing the friction between the one or more traction wheels and the ground; wherein the one or more traction wheels being associated with a braking mechanism.
 16. The scrum machine of claim 15, wherein: the braking mechanism comprise two or more independently operated brakes which can apply a variable braking load to each individual brake to simulate a wheeling scrum.
 17. The scrum machine of either one of claims 15 or 16, wherein: the frame has a central portion and braces extend between the front portion and the central portion. 